Kelly Underhill

A leader in the oncology field

Kelly Underhill attended KCSS from 1972 to 1977. Upon graduation, she attended the University of Western Ontario where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. After working in this field at Toronto General Hospital and lecturing at the University of Toronto, She attended U of T law school for a year and then went to Queen’s University where she obtained a degree from the Faculty of Medicine in 1992. She did her residency in Radiation Oncology at Queen’s, graduating in 1997.

Dr. Kelly Underhill is a radiation oncologist whose areas of expertise include breast cancers, gynecologic cancers, endometrial cancer and head and neck cancers. She is also an expert in highly targeted brachytherapy (radiation implants).

Kelly’s career includes the following highlights: President of the Cardiorespiratory subcommittee of the Canadian Physical Therapy Association (1985 – 1986); a Fellowship in Brachytherapy at Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City; Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA (1998 – 2002); Assistant Professor, Oncology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire (2002 – 2007); private practice and on the attending staff at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Portland, Oregon. Kelly is currently the Medical Director of the Sletten Cancer Institute in Great Falls, Montana. As a Cyberknife trained doctor, Kelly is a co-director of Cyberknife trained physicians at the clinic.

Kelly is the chair of several hospital based and regional health care committees, is the author of numerous publications and has lectured extensively across North America on new therapies in radiation oncology. She is currently on the Montana Medical Advisory committee for Senator Baucus where she says she is a general rabble rouser for health care reform.

Dr. Underhill said she likes to take time to get to know each of her patients and the family members who will support them through their cancer battle. “I spend a lot of time with my patients, particularly at consultations because it's very important that I get to know them, not just their disease. You can't just treat a disease, you have to treat a person and you have to treat a person in the context of their family.”

Kelly lives in Montana with her husband Paul and son, Matthew. When she has the time, she enjoys a variety of outdoor activities in all seasons.